The Car and Truck Fleet and Leasing Management Magazine

ThyssenKrupp Elevator Adds Hybrid Vans

ThyssenKrupp Elevator Americas has added 10 hybrid-electric vehicles to its fleet in Atlanta, Boston, and Dallas as the elevator service fleet continues its expansion of alternative-fuel use, the company has announced.

The leading elevator producer in the U.S. has integrated converted vehicles using XL3 hybrid systems from XL Hybrids Inc. that turn traditional gasoline-powered vehicles into range-exteded hybrids. The company converted several vehicles including Ford E-Series vans, Ford Transit Connect vans, and Ford crew cab F-150 pickups.

The hybrid vehicles deliver a 25-percent increase in miles driven per gallon, according to a company release.

"Reducing petroleum use in our 3,200-vehicle fleet is our most significant environmental impact to date," said Brad Nemeth, ThyssenKrupp's vice president of sustainability. "By October 2013, we saved over 710,000 gallons of gas and 115,000 gallons of diesel over our 2010 baseline. The addition of the hybrid conversion and CNG technology will give us another tool to improve fuel efficiency."

The company also rolled out a compressed natural gas vehicle for use by its service mechanics near the Denver International Airport with a centralized fueling location. ThyssenKrupp initially added 50 ROUSH CleanTech propane E-Series vans in the Phoenix market in 2010, and now operates 85 propane-fueled vehicles. The company added 35 propane autogas vans and plans to purchase propane-fueled Ford Transit vans from ROUSH CleanTech when theyr'e available.